Djokovic's health scare in Cincinnati raises questions ahead of US Open

During his first post-Wimbledon appearance at the Cincinnati Open, Novak Djokovic was forced to stop mid-match after appearing ill and vomiting, ultimately losing to underdog Thiago Agustin Tirante. He later described the episode as a symptom of a condition that has troubled him for years, especially in hot, humid conditions, though he gave no specific diagnosis. Coaches and former players expressed concern about his capacity to survive the grueling best-of-five format at the US Open, while noting that night matches might mitigate the heat.

The tournament field is unusually open, with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner out due to a knee injury and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz set to make his first competitive appearance after a right wrist injury. Djokovic, seeded No. 25, will open against Mariano Navone, and experts see this as a potential window for another major title.